Hey everyone, Chris here with your long weekend fishing forecast for July 30th. We’re heading into one of the best weekends of the summer with stable weather, cooler overnight temps, and plenty of opportunities for both bass and trout fishing across Southern Ontario.
Bass Fishing Tips for the Long Weekend
It’s midsummer, and bass fishing is at its peak. The weather looks stable, with no unusual patterns moving in, which should make for consistently productive conditions. Expect strong action, especially on popular cottage country lakes—Muskoka, Lake of Bays, and similar hotspots.
One important tip: with the long weekend comes heavier boat traffic. Wakeboarders, tubers, and pleasure boaters tend to stir things up and push fish down. So your best bet is to fish early—before the lake gets churned up. That’s when bass will still be holding in the shallows and accessible to fly anglers, usually this means fishing from sun up until mid/late morning to get the best fishing. Alternatively, hit the water in the evening once traffic dies down.
If you're lucky enough to be on a quieter lake, you’ll likely find good fishing throughout the day.
Recommended Flies for Bass
- RIO’s Oh My Dragonfly – A perfect match for the buzzing back bay activity.
- Mr. Wigglies & Hopper Patterns – Great topwater fun in shallow areas.
- Walker’s Wigglers – Ideal for covering water quickly and triggering aggressive strikes.
Rivers like the Grand and Saugeen can carry some extra stain this time of year. One of our go-to flies in that water is the Kreelex Minnow in purple and silver. It provides excellent contrast and has been a top producer in recent outings.
Trout Fishing Back on the Table
Thanks to a break in the heat wave, overnight lows in areas like Caledon are dropping to 12–14°C, bringing river temperatures down into a safe range for trout (note that the Grand River will still be too hot to fish for trout). While the tail end of the current warm spell is still hanging on, early mornings over the weekend should offer several hours of excellent trout fishing.
What to Fish for Trout
Smaller nymphs, streamers, and dries – Low, clear summer water calls for subtlety.
Terrestrials – Ants, beetles, and hoppers can be super effective right now. Prospecting with these patterns in pocket water or along grassy banks can yield some surprising eats.
Between early-morning bass and mid-summer trout opportunities, this long weekend is shaping up beautifully. If you need tips on where to go or what to bring, get in touch or swing by the shop—we’re happy to help.
